Media: Church leaders call for probe

CHURCH leaders continue to rally behind Kennedy Road shack-dwellers, calling for a judicial enquiry into recent violence in the area.

Two people were killed in a mob attack last month and 13 suspects have since been arrested.
However, shack-dwellers’ movement Abahlali baseMjondolo (AbM) has claimed repeatedly that its own members were being targeted and indicated that a certain faction of the ANC was fuelling the violence.

The ANC vociferously denied these allegations at the height of the unrest three weeks ago.

Anglican Bishop Rubin Phillip, on behalf of the Diakonia Council of Churches, put forward his concerns on the issue in his response to a letter from the MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Willies Mchunu, this month.

“We would also take this opportunity to call for a judicial commission of enquiry into the violence, destruction of property and displacement of residents.

“This includes the actions of various stakeholders, including the Sydenham Police Station,” he said.